Video Systems

Intelligent devices – changing things for the better

Smarter video systems go beyond security

A detailed look at the future of video security

The IoT is changing the way we view video security, quite literally. Now, cameras need to be so much more than devices with which to simply capture images; they need to be far smarter than that. Today cameras are becoming an integral part of the vast digital connectivity infrastructure, they need to be shaped into intelligent sensors that have the ability to extract invaluable data to help businesses make improvements in the area of video security, and beyond. If we take the automotive industry as an example, cameras used as intelligent sensors allow cars to understand their environment and enabling them to respond to the surrounding driving conditions.

Creating limitless possibilities

On a wider scale, the IoT has caused cities to transition into smart cities, whereby an existing video security infrastructure should be considered to start collecting smart data to help optimize energy consumption by controlling urban lighting according to footfall, or ensure public transport is following a timetable, or control a sequence of traffic lights to optimize traffic flow. From a business perspective, it means an initial investment in video security can also be used for other business purposes. Bosch wants to shape this change by offering intelligent cameras.

The camera is a fixture for the future

Conventional sensors perform well, but they have their limitations. Whereas a motion detector can sense movement and trigger an alarm, a camera can scrutinize the whole scene in detail and provide vital information such as object type, direction, size, color and speed, whilst the use of time stamps gives greater situational accuracy.

A connected device is a more secure device

When a camera is connected to the internet it enables users to constantly check its operational status and push security updates when required. But as technology in a connected world gets smarter, so do the hackers, which is why cybercrime prevention is paramount. This is why Bosch offers a full suite of data security measures. In addition to familiar steps such as a strong password, all communications between camera and network are encrypted (cryptographic keys are safely stored in a unique built-in Trusted Platform Module), and have advanced user management settings to control access to data.

Defining the ‘i’ camera

It’s not an understatement to say that cameras with built-in video analytics as standard have rewritten the rules of video security. That’s not to say the basic requirements have been dismissed. On the contrary, image quality, bitrate management (reductions by up to 80%) and data security will always be a priority. But it’s the added intelligence and connectivity that sets them apart from conventional cameras and makes them truly intelligent:

Our intention is to capture data that is not only useful, but gets used. It may surprise you to learn that, on average, only 10% of data captured gets used. We aim to push that figure closer to 100%, by making intelligent cameras that are invaluable in making the streets safer, cars smarter, and businesses more profitable.